America’s presidential election day, the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, is next week. Where once this day represented the day voters actually went to the polls and cast their ballots this year more than every it is the termination day following weeks of voting and with luck and a motivated electorate, we may have the election’s resolution Tuesday.

If the election is close and with a number of states not counting their mailed in ballots until election day itself it could be days or even weeks before we know the outcome, notwithstanding other intruding events such as court challenges attempting to shut down vote counting early. One persistent fear is that of a ‘red mirage.’ Because supporters of the President are more likely to discount the dangers of the pandemic they had been telling pollsters that they plan to vote in person while Independent and Democratic voters have stated a clear preference for mailed ballots. This could lead to a situation where votes cast in person and reported election night favor Trump but are no reflective of the final result because mailed ballots have yet to be counted. However, if the turnout is high and the results are not close then the hazard of a red mirage is far less likely.

As of this writing 538’s average of national polls has Biden with a lead of 8.5 points and their election model is projecting his odds of winning at 88%, significantly better Hillary Clinton’s odds at this point last cycle.

I am still hoping and can see it is far from impossible that not only does Biden crush Trump is a 1980 style route but that the GOP suffers massive defeats at every level of government throughout the union.